Giants' fans offer tips on getting those player autograph

By James V. Franco

Sunday, July 29, 2012

ALBANY -- Saturday may have been the official Autograph Day at the Giants training camp but hoping to get the John Hancock of members of the Big Blue is one reason fans come to practice sessions at the University at Albany.

One trick, it appears, is to get a good spot along the fence as the players leave the field and then to have writing instruments handy for the players.

Nick Cicco, who was in town from Pennsylvania for the training camp, got to the 1 p.m. session about three hours early to get a good spot on the ramp leading from the practice field to the locker room. Most of the players, he said, are pretty receptive to the fans requests for autographs.

"The highlight of today was Eli Manning," he said. "I live in the heart of Eagle territory but I have season tickets to the Giants so I'm a year-round fan."

Another trick, said Saratoga resident Ann Clapper, is to bring a "big fat marker" if you want the players to sign a football. The bumps on the ball, she said, make it hard for the ink to show up when using a fine-tipped writing instrument.

She had a number of signatures on two footballs, including -- Corey Webster, Lawrence Tynes and Brandon Collins -- that quite possibly are headed to San Diego as Christmas presents for her grandsons.

"For them to stop after the kind of workout they just had, and how hot and tired they must be, they don't seem to mind," she said. "They are all so nice."

Included along with the more traditional pen and paper, fans came armed with footballs, hats, jerseys and helmets for the players to sign.

Kathleen DeCarlo, of Rexford, said she saw Tynes, the kicker, sign a birthday card for a 1-year-old whose birthday party is tomorrow.

When asked whose autograph he would like to get Eight-year-old Brandon Benanto of Malta said: "All of them."

Rich Lee has brought his 17-year-old son from New Jersey to the Albany training camp for the past six years. Between the two of them they got Will Beaty, Da'Rel Scott and Ahmad Bradshaw among others and were working on more. One trick to gathering autographs, he said, is to get to camp during the first couple days when "things are a little more relaxed.

"I love coming up here and so does my son. Just being here at the practices is great," he said.

The highlight of the day for Scott Logan, who was holding two footballs and three markers, was getting Manning, the Giants' standout quarterback, to sign.

"It's all kind of a blur right now," said the New Jersey resident who is in town three days for training camp. "It's been a great day."

For fans who may only see the Giants on television or at a game in a stadium with thousands of other fans, seeing their favorite players up close and personal is something that can only happen at training camp.

"The best part is meeting the players," said Michael White, of Pennsylvania. "When they have the time, they are very receptive to the fans."

Giant Justin Tuck, on the social media site Twitter, invited fans who may have been disappointed with the weather on Saturday's Autograph Day, back Sunday. "Sorry autograph day didn't go as planned. Rain and autographs don't mix. But I will be signing again tmrw. Go Giants," Tuck tweeted on Saturday.